Strip clubs OK’d in Seattle

The Seattle City Council approved city-wide strip club zoning Monday afternoon.

The rules allow the clubs in business districts throughout the city, so long as they are not near schools, churches, day care center, parks and other “sensitive” areas. Clubs are also not allowed to open near other such businesses, to prevent strip club clusters. Industrial areas in Sodo and in North Seattle are exempted.

For nearly two decades, City Hall has prevented new clubs from opening by perpetually renewing a moratorium against new “adult cabarets.” A judge tossed out that defacto ban in 2005. That ruling left nothing on Seattle’s books directly regulating strip club locations — effectively allowing them wherever performance halls are allowed.

The legislation approved Monday by a 8-0 vote retains that citywide approach, but imposes the new buffer zones to keep them from moving in next to family-oriented places.

Mayor Greg Nickels had proposed that the city establish a district for such clubs in Sodo.